You may already know that the Footprint Plot (FOO) option helps you learn about the used area of the surfaces in your model. But did you also know there is a sub-feature of FOO to check the clearance of the surfaces in your model? This can help you make sure there is no physical conflict between adjacent surfaces. The clearance checking helps detect overlap of surfaces in non-rotationally symmetric systems, as well as with non-spherical surfaces.

For decentered systems, clearance checking is automatically enabled. When FOO detects a physical conflict, a table in the analysis output will be displayed that shows the surface numbers where there is a conflict, the height where surface overlap is detected, and the worst case virtual ray length between the two surfaces. For example, consider the example of a singlet with a 45-degree fold mirror. In this example, there is not enough clearance to fit the fold mirror without coming into contact with the singlet.

The output indicates that between surfaces 3 and 4, which are the back of the singlet and the mirror, respectively, there is a -0.53 mm ray length at a height of 13.8 mm relative to the mirror surface’s local coordinate system. This is labeled as a PHYSICAL CONFLICT.

The check is not automatically performed for rotationally symmetric systems, since it is easier to visually detect overlap issues in the View Lens (VIE) and 3D Viewing (V3D) options. If you’d like to enable the clearance checking for rotationally symmetric systems, choose the Analysis > Diagnostics > FootprintPlot menu. In the FootprintPlot dialog box, click the SpecialControls tab and choose Clearance Check: Yes.

Alternatively, you can specify some other "safety" gap size between surfaces instead of a physical overlap where elements are in physical contact. The List and plot clearances setting will perform clearance checks for each surface in the specified range and generate a plot with a grid of rays that shows which rays have physical conflicts.

For more information about FOO in CODE V, see the Footprint Plot chapter in the CODE V Diagnostic Analysis Reference Manual.

Note: To control clearances during optimization, you can use the supplied CODE V macro define_jmrcc.seq. You can find out more about clearance optimization constraints in the Advanced Optimization Techniques in CODE V.

Please note that the glass catalog files are in XML format, and are not compatible with CODE V version 10.7 or earlier.

CODE V 11.0 New Features Webinar Recording Available

An eight-part recording of the CODE V 11.0 New Features webinar is now available on the Customer Support Portal. The webinar was originally presented on March 22, 2017.

Don't have an account on the Customer Support Portal yet? Current customers are encouraged to register for this valuable customer resource. When you register for an account, you'll receive access CODE V presentations, downloads, training materials, and much more.

Short Course on Laser Technology and Optical Design at the University of Strathclyde

The University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, Scotland) will offer a short course on laser technology and optical design, April 24-28. CODE V will be demonstrated and used in the lab sessions.